Must Read Tips for the Nightlife in Bogota, Colombia

October 4, 2018, 7:35 pm

Ladies, slip on those sassy stilettos. Men, put on your “nice” jeans. We’re hitting the town in Bogotá!

The nightlife shouldn’t be missed while visiting Bogotá, Colombia. Even if you’re not a big party person, there are still a lot of interesting places to go once the sun goes down. Whether you want to dance the night away with locals or relax with a glass or two of wine (or three or four), the capital of this South American country has a place to fit your idea of a good time.

Where to Go?

There are a few “happening” areas the kids go to shake their tail feathers. (Do we sounds like your grandma? We’re just trying to be cool.) Calle 85 should be at the top of your list if barhopping is something you want to try in Bogotá. While Calle 85 translates to “85th Street” in English, it is also the name of the area where many of the coolest bars in Bogotá are located. One of those bars is La Villa. Once a week, La Villa hosts Gringo Tuesdays on, you guessed it, Tuesday. It all starts at 5 p.m. with a language exchange. It’s where, you guessed it, people exchange languages. This is a perfect place for people who don’t want to stay out too late, but want to shoot the breeze with both locals and travelers. After 9 p.m. is when the DJs start blasting anything from Reggaeton and Salsa to the hits you would hear on the radio in your home country. This club also has free Salsa lessons on the weekends. Zona T (pronounced in Spanish as “teh”) isn’t far from Calle 85. It’s another area with clubs and bars. You can walk from Calle 85 to Zona T, just make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.

What to Wear?

People from Bogotá rarely leave their homes without a jacket, especially at night. You shouldn’t either since nighttime gets pretty chilly. Don’t worry about a jacket messing up your outfit because most clubs have coat checks you can use for a cheap price. Speaking of outfits, Colombian men hitting the town usually wear jeans and a button-up shirt with a collar. Colombian women wear skirts or tight jeans, but the skirts are usually worn with leggings or stockings because of the cooler temperatures. Mid-drifts are a thing, plan accordingly.

What to Drink?

Aguardiente is quintessentially Colombian. It’s made from sugarcane and packs quite the punch. Most Colombians drink it from shot glasses. You’ll get a chaser if you’re lucky.

Club Colombia is a popular beer that comes in three different varieties. Águila and Poker are also common beers found in Bogotá.

What to Remember?

Just like in any country, never leave your drink unattended. This isn’t just sound advice for women, men should also keep sharp eyes on their cups.
The legal drinking age is 18 in Colombia. Some places card, some places don’t, but you should always carry around identification regardless of where you are.
Taxi drivers usually cruise around the bar strips waiting to take people home in the wee hours of the morning. If for some reason a taxi isn’t available, Uber, Tappsi and EasyTaxi are apps that will fetch you a ride in Bogotá.

Anneliese Delgado is an American digital marketer and writer living in Bogotá, Colombia. Her mother is from the United States and her father is from Venezuela, giving her the unique opportunity to blend in on the streets of Colombia, while still viewing the country with the eyes of an outsider. When she’s not writing or traveling, she’s playing soccer, wandering around stores with no intention of buying anything and binge-watching Netflix. You can read more about her adventures on her blog at abroadincolombia.com.